Use keyboard shortcuts
Cut, copy, and paste your answers using the keyboard. Or, use keyboard shortcuts to enter special characters and symbols.
For example, if you enter: \sqrt. The square root symbol shows:
Some courses include a palette of symbols where you can enter math notation from a palette.
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Copy text
- Highlight the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the c key
- Release both keys.
Cut text
- Highlight the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the x key
- Release both keys.
Paste copied or cut text
- Place your cursor where you want to paste the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the v key.
- Release both keys.
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To use this symbol... | Enter this shortcut... | For example |
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+ (plus) | Plus sign on keyboard |
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- (minus) | Dash on keyboard |
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\plusminus |
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= (equal) | Equal sign on keyboard |
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* (asterisk)
(For example: 2 * 3) |
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\times
(For example: 2 \times 3) |
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\divide |
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< (less than) | Left angle sign on keyboard (For example: 2 < 3) |
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< = (left angle sign and an equal sign) (For example: 2 <= 3) |
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< (greater than) | Right angle sign on keyboard (For example: 3 > 2) |
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> = (right angle sign and an equal sign)
(For example: 3 >= 2) |
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<> (left and right angle signs) (For example: 3 <> 2) |
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To use this symbol... | Enter this shortcut... | For example |
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/
(Type the numerator, then a slash, then the denominator. For example: 2 /3) |
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Type the Shift key, then the up arrow to create a superscript box where you can enter a number. |
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Type the Shift key, then the down arrow to create a subscript box where you can enter a number. |
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\supsub
(Creates a template where you can enter the base value in the box on the left, and the superscript and subscript in the boxes on the right.) |
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\subsub
(Creates a template where you can enter a subscript in the box on the left, the base value in the box in the middle, and a subscript in the box on the right.) |
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\abs
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
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\sqrt
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
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\nrt
(Creates a template where you can enter the values in the highlighted blue boxes.) |
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\larrow
(For example, a \larrow b) |
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\rarrow
(For example, a \rarrow b) |
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\biarrow
(For example, a \biarrow b) |
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\textbar
(For example: 5 \textbar 15) |
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\empty
(For example: V = \empty) |
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\cup
(For example: A \cup B) |
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\cap
(For example: A \cap B) |
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\element
(For example: A \element B) |
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\nelement
(For example: A \nelement B) |
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\subset
(For example: A \subset B) |
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\nsubset
(For example: A \nsubset B) |
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\propersub
(For example: A \propersub B) |
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\npropersub
(For example: A \npropersub B) |
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\angle
(For example: \angle ABC) |
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\and
(For example: A \and B) |
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\or
(For example: A \or B) |
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\not
(For example: \not A) |
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Tilde on keyboard |
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\inf
(For example: A = \inf) |
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i on keyboard
(For example: a = bi = 0) |
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e on keyboard
(For example: e = 0) |
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\grad
(For example: \grad f = 2y) |
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\partiald
(For example, \partiald x) |
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\int
(For example: \int f(x) dx |
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\dint
(Creates a template where you can enter values in the highlighted blue boxes. For example 2 \dint 3) |
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\bar
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
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\dbar
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
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\hat
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
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To use this letter... | Enter this shortcut... |
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\alpha |
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\beta |
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\gamma |
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\cdelta |
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\delta |
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\epsilon |
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\eta |
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\theta |
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\lambda |
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\mu |
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\pi |
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\rho |
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\sigma |
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\sum |
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\lsum (![]() |
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\tau |
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\phi |
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\vphi |
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\chi |
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\psi |
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\omega |